California | SOUTHLAND FOCUS

Imports Drop 5% at Port of Long Beach

Import volume at the Port of Long Beach fell nearly 5% in September from a year ago, and port officials said the drop was largely the result of efforts by importers to ship holiday merchandise earlier this year to avoid cargo bottlenecks. Last month, the port handled 208,880 import containers, compared with 219,080 in September 1999. In August, however, the port took in 236,969 import containers--a 10% increase from the previous year. Port spokesman Art Wong said the August rush represented an early crest in the port's peak shipping season, helping to deflate September's numbers. Exports in September also fell by roughly 2%. The neighboring Port of Los Angeles reported last week that it saw a 22% increase in imports during September compared with a year earlier.